3 minute read

Central Queensland’s Will Johnston cut his teeth in the industry riding warhorse Master Jamie and now he is making a name for himself in the training ranks.

At just 20 years of age, Johnston took out his own training licence earlier this year and collected his first winner at just his third starter on Saturday afternoon at Yeppoon.

Johnston's family is steeped in generations of racing history in the Rockhampton area.

He held a stable hand licence through his high school years before turning his attention to riding track work.

While the up-and-coming horseman flirted with a career as a jockey, his weight held him back and training his own team was the next best option.

General Hippo handed Johnston his maiden win as a conditioner when the gelding bolted in by almost four lengths in a Maiden Plate over 1300 metres with apprentice Leah Martyn doing the pilot work on Saturday.

Johnston's friends and family were on hand for the special occasion at Yeppoon with their celebrations heard loudly during the race call.

The son of Boom Time raced under the banner of Donna Grisedale on the Northern Rivers of NSW without much luck before Johnston snapped him up online.

"He did not have much good form down there but I bought him more as a throw at the stumps as a horse to start of with for me," the emerging horseman said.

"Since he has come up to me, he has not missed a beat.

"He had that one unlucky run at 'Rocky' where he got caught and he pulled up well after that so I thought we would take him back to Yeppoon as he seems to like the track.

"He had one good run there and had trialed there, as well. He proved to be too good on Saturday.

"I am doing what I think is right for the horse – feeding him and working him right – and it seems to be all coming together for him."

The young trainer already has another assignment picked out for General Hippo with the gelding set to head to the 'Sugar City' of Mackay on Thursday of next week for a Class 1 Plate over 1560 metres.

Johnston notes the galloper is bred to get over longer trips and believes smaller tracks such as Mackay and Yeppoon will suit him better than Rockhampton's Callaghan Park.